Box type hinge



June 12, 1951 H. HAAsE 2,557,048

BOX TYPE HINGE Filed Oct.. 12, 1948 Patented June 12, 1951 Box TYPE HINGE Lawrence H. Haase, Evansville, Ind., assigner to Kent Plastics Corporation, Evansville, Ind.

Application October 12, 1948, Serial No. 54,015

8 Claims.

The invention relates to jewel box structures and the like and more particularly toithe hinging employed between the box and cover.

The chief object of this invention is to hingedly connect the two parts aforesaid in such a manner that the cover is held open in an over center position and is held in closed position, when desired, the hinging being of self closing character.

The chief feature of the present invention resides in the particular formation of the adjacent portions of the box and cover, and the novel association therewith of a coilv spring of peculiar shape and a rigid hinge pin or pintle or a resilient pintle. In other words for the majority of box structures but two pins and two springs or two resilient pintles vare required and when the box is closed only the remote ends of such pins are exteriorly exposed, the springs if used being concealed. j

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fully in-detail hereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a closed box structure embodying the invention with the included spring.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the same, the cover being shown in over center, self sustaining open position.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the hinge formation of this invention, the view being taken looking into the structure with the cover in open position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View on a still larger scale of one of the springs embodied inthe invention.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a second.

embodiment of the invention and one without a spring.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of a third embodiment, same also being of springless character.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings Il) indicates a box having the back wall II and end walls I2. The cover I3 includes back wall I 4. Projecting therefrom and in coplanar alignment are the projections or tongues I5. The box back wall in its confronting face includes tongue receiving notches I6. Herein a cooperating pair of the aforesaid is disposed adjacent the ends of the box.l

A pin II serving as a connector and hinge pin passes through hole I8 opening upon the end I2 at I9. An aligned hole is formed in the tongue I5. In the back II across the slot may be an 2 Y. aligned hole if desired. In this event the pin is longer than that illustrated herein.- When a short pin is utilized holes 20 do not extend through the tongues but terminate at 20a.

Between the tongue seating notch and end wall I2 and in back wall II is an inwardly and upwardly opening recess 22, the back wall portion 23 of which is slightly notched as at 24 for a purpose now to be described. y

The spring 25, see Fig. 4, has at one end a short extension 26 terminating in free end portion 21 and at the other end 'has longer extension 28 terminating in free end portion 29. These portions are directed inwardly and are parallel and may partially lap. The arms when the cover is open are disposed at approximately plus or minus 5, to each other.

The bottom wall of recess 23 includes slot 30 herein shown coextensive with the length of re' cess 23. This slot seats spring end 21. The confronting edge of cover back wall I4 is similarly recessed at 3| to seat spring end 29. Arm 28 is disposed in notch 24 when the cover is in open position. ,n

The spring 25 is nested at all times in recess 22. The hinge pin I1 extends entirely through the spring 25. Note that the free end of tongue I5 is curved as at I 5a so as to clear the bottom wall of notch I6 when the cover is opened. The flat back of tongue I 5 bears on this bottom wall when the cover is opened and prevents further opening movement of the cover. Obviously a right and a left hand spring must be utilized in a two hinge structure. Note also the slight gap between back walls II and I4 when the box is 'closed This facilitates box opening and prevents cover bind- 1ng.

In Fig. 5 there is illustrated a modied form of the invention. Herein numerals of the series indicate parts like or similar to those shown in Figs. 1 to 5 and indicated by the primary numerals.

The box again is notched to receive the cover tongues. The pintle Ill herein extends through tongue I I5 and is secured at opposite sides of the notch to the box member.

Herein tongue II5 includes a projection II5a. Notch I I6 includes extension I I6a. The box back wall III includes closure portion IIIaand ledgev tion by portion I|5a bearing upon ledge HBD. When the cover is closed it is so held by portion I |5a seating in notch extension I 16a.

In Fig. 6 numerals of the 200 series are utilized. Herein tongue 2l5 includes a step cam portion 2l5a with step 2I5b. Box member 2li! has its notch 216 closed as at 2lla and provided with cam surface 216e and ledge Zlb. Pintle 2H again is eccentrically disposed as it were. This form operates like that shown in Fig. 5.

The spring accommodating notches may be utilized or omitted and if present springs may be utilized in either Fig. 4 or Fig. 5 form .as .previously set forth for the Figs. 1 to 4 form. In the last two forms the pintles Vpreferably extend across the notch but need not do so in 'all cases. Also in the form Figs. 1 to 3, the pintles I1 may extend across the notch and be box anchored at opposite ends.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein as well vas -others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered `to be within the broad scope of the invention, reference being `had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a box structure having a box member and a cover member, the combination with a plurality of tongues depending from the .one member toward the other when in box for-mation, the other member having complementary tongue receiving notches in its tongue confronting portion, hinge pintle means carried by the notched member and extending across the notches and into the tongues, and means resiliently constraining said members to maintain the cover in closed position, said last mentioned means being disposed in the notches and supported by said pintle means.

2. A structure vas defined by claim 1 wherein the notches have ledge portions and the tongues include offsets for ledge portion engagement.

3. A structure as defined by claim 1 wherein each notch yhas a surface non-concentric with respect to the axis of said pintle means and portions -upon the said tongue having cooperating engagement with the aforesaid surface.

4, In a box structure having a box member and a-cover member the combination therewith of a hinge pin and a pin enveloping spring, one of said members having a tongue projecting toward the other of said members, the said other member having in its confronting portion a notch to receive said tongue the notch and tongue having varcuate complementary confronting portions, the pin extending from the said other member adjacent the notch therein and into said tongue, the said other member in juxtaposition to the notch, having a spring nesting recess therein, opposite ends of said spring being secured to the said members.

5. A box structure as dened by claim 4 wherein the spring is of coiled type with lateral arms at the ends thereof, each arm having a free end disposed angularly of the arm and directed toward the other free end, the ends being approximately parallel to each other and parallel to the axis of the spring, each member having a longitudinally disposed recess in juxtaposition to the first mentioned recess to seat the spring free end, said last 'mentioned recesses substantially confronting each `other and communicating with the -rst mentioned recess when the box is closed.

6. A box structure as defined by claim 4 wherein 'the .said other member includes a spring accommodating notch therein disposed transversely of the rst vmentioned notch and'commnnicating therewith.

7. A box structure as dened by claim4 where- -in the recess and notch of Asaid `othermember are longitudinally aligned and have end to end communication with each other, said other member having a second notch which simultaneously communicates with the recess and first mentioned notch and is directed transversely thereof.

8. Albox structure as defined byclaim '7 wherein the spring is -of coiled .type with lateral varms at the ends thereof, each arm having ya free 'end disposed -angularly of vthe arm zand directed ltoward the other free end, the ends being approximately parallel to each other and parallel to the axis .of the spring, each member having a longitudinally disposed recess in juxtaposition to the first mentioned recess to seat the spring vfree end, said last mentioned recesses substantially confronting each other yand communicating with the first mentioned recess when the box is closed.

LAWRENCE H. HAASE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,928,041 Windersheim Sept. 26, 1933 1,950,465 Whitlock Mar. 13, 1934 2,126,049 Shiffmanet al. Aug. 9, 1938 2,200,399 Primas May `14, 1940 2,308,284 Ibach Jan. l2, -1-943 2,393,568 Root Jan. 22, 1946 '2,442,873 Graham June 8,1948

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 186,543 Great Britain Oct. Y5,1922 428,819 Great Britain'. May 20, 1935 

